I just love my drive to and from work in the Jura mountains. I often feel the need to pinch myself to be sure I am not dreaming. It is always that beautiful here. I am so happy that we moved back into the mountains.

Busy week with school starting up again and the excitement of a new kitten. The first week of school is always stressfull for my kids. Next week will be a little more calm as we fall into our routine. Working nights isn’t always easy but it is nice to be there for them even if sleeping is more like napping during weeks like this past one. ;)

We have a new addition to our family. We thought about several names. I suggested Heidi as a joke but somehow it stuck. The fact that the kitten is still a little afraid and hiding under and behind all the furniture as she explores the appartment may have be part of the reason Heidi (hiding) Cat fit.

We are headed to Strasbourg, France for a few days. The kids will spend their Easter break with their French grandparents so we can work. The kids are pretty excited. I am happy to see Strasbourg, again.

I took the photos below when we visited Strasbourg during Christmas last year. I really love this city.

Picture taken of the cat next door after I fished her out from under my bed. She used to try to come in our apartment all the time when she was a kitten. She is super friendly and just beautiful. She is most likely a Van Cat. If we ever add another cat to our family I would love to have one like her…Or him???

We couldn’t use Vilay’s pension as a downpayment to construct a house in France unless we were already living in France. We could wait for my French citizenship to arrive in the mail and move to France. Afterwards, we could build in France.

Yet, I think things happen for a reason.

We have decided to stay in Switzerland.

We will soon have the famous C permit which is for life (as long as you stay in Switzerland) and our current location is pretty much perfect in regard to getting around to other cities. So, we will save up like crazy over the next three years and buy a house or apartment here. In Switzerland. And, that makes us happy.

I worried about the long commute Vilay would have had to make from France to the city he works in. It would have been over an hour. Not to mention the kids. They were really upset about leaving Switzerland. I get that. In their heads, they are more Swiss than French or American. Switzerland is their country. It is who they are and to leave Switzerland scared them.

No matter where life takes us I know that we are blessed to have each other.
That is really all that matters.

Switzerland has been really good to us. We are grateful for the opportunities that we have been given. We are at home here.

I have taken some pictures with the idea of sharing them here. During the past several months, I have only taken pictures to share with family on facebook. I was just kinda hanging on and taking it day by day until things settled down a little.

So.

There is this thing that got in the way of blogging. It is called a job. It made my life very crazy for a while.

I work nightshift because that is what works best for my family. I need to be organized but not much more than any other working mother. Working did, however, kill my creative side. I needed time to adjust to many new things in my life. Good things.

Our life has taken a path that six years ago I would never have believed could be possible.

Here is what we have been up to…

I should be French (Franco-American) this time next year. The process of my obtaining French citizenship officially started one week ago. We are, also, in the process of buying land (in France) and finishing up the house plans with our builder.

This Thanksgiving like so many others is a time to reflect on how thankful I am for the wonderful people that I have in my life. I am blessed. I hope all of you that celebrate Thanksgiving had a good one. I will be cooking up our dinner this weekend.

All of this snow is gone.
I have been driving on a regular basis for over a month.
I have been working for a month and a half.
I really like my job.
I am tired but it is a good tired.
We are moving in three months.
I have so much to do before this move.
I am not stressing about it.
I will just do it.
The first month at my job was incredibly hard.
It was also wonderful.

I should be sleeping now.
Instead, I think it is good to give you all a little update.

I will try to make another post this weekend.
It is hard because we are always running somewhere or I need to catch up on cleaning or resting or Vilay is hogging the computer or the kids need me or well you get it.

I am so sorry for not posting sooner. I have no real excuse other than working full-time with three kids plus Vilay. :D

Yesterday, my children went with my In-Laws to France where they will stay for a week during their school vacation. It is nice to have them off having fun during a week that I know will be stressful for Vilay and I. I am starting my first week at my new job, we need to find a second car and I am looking for babysitters for a few half days that the daycare couldn’t cover. It will all come together one way or another. I am sure.

In the meantime…It is quiet here.
Too quiet.

I miss them already.

Below is a photo of St. John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of all bridges. I think it is appropriate to have him in this post as we are passing another bridge in our life.

We are making one plan after another to get our family where it needs to be. Everything is up in the air. We are waiting for it to all float back down where it belongs.

I haven’t slept much since last Wednesday. Last night, I slept like a baby. It made a big difference today. I have gotten all the errands and phone calls out of the way.

One week from today, I will begin my new job.
I am so excited.

We are seriously looking into moving to Bienne. Bienne prides itself on being a family friendly city. It has certainly cleaned up nicely over the past few years with new construction all over the city. All the trash that I used to see floating in the lake is gone.

I can’t think of a better gift to give my children than to make it possible for them to grow up in a bilingual city that speaks two of the three main Swiss languages. The English that my kids speak will just be icing on the cake.

I found a job. Contract is in hand. We have become crazy looking for childcare solutions in a Canton that isn’t very supportive of women that would like to work.

The job is such a huge opportunity that I will do whatever it takes not to lose it before I even begin. I still can’t believe what a great job it is after all the waiting and struggling I have been through these past four years.

What helps stress better than anything else (besides sex)???

Chocolate!!!

If you live in Switzerland, you can go to the Cailler website to send a free bar of chocolate to your Valentine. There is a limited number so HURRY! I have already sent one to Vilay and he was so sweet to send me one too. Amazing how he can do that even while he is off snoring in the bedroom. hehehe